Winter always brings a surge in weather-related repairs that we’re asked to get involved in, and this Winter was busier than most, for a number of reasons.
An Arctic cold snap plunged most of the UK into sub-zero temperatures in December, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing a level three cold weather alert on 5 December 2022.
Insurance companies and loss adjusters were on standby for the forecasted thaw which began on 17 December. Temperatures suddenly rising relatively quickly resulted in frozen and burst water pipes – in homes and commercial properties.
Rising as quickly as the temperatures, were insurance company call volumes, bringing a flood of claims submissions and enquiries! Aviva claimed to have received call levels around 400% above predicted volumes over that weekend.
What has made this season worse than other Winters, is the cost-of-living crisis and people’s need to reduce energy consumption, with many avoiding putting their heating on as much as possible.
Action Insurance Repair has had a busy few months helping to assess and quote for over 20 frozen and burst pipe jobs, following the cold snap. With the huge deluge of frozen and burst claims in December, many are still out for assessment and adjustment and still being processed – three months later. February and March have also seen sudden Arctic temperature drops, so we at Action Insurance
Repair fear the loss adjuster’s caseloads are not getting smaller...
With repair claims we’re working on ranging from £5,000 to £150,000 in value, getting residents back into their homes and businesses back to their premises, is our top priority. So, we’re rolling up our sleeves, ready to get to work, the moment we’re given the nod.
Top Tips
For Letting Agents
If you’re a Letting Agent managing properties on behalf of your landlords, popping a friendly seasonal message out to tenants, suggesting they turn off water or leave the heating timer on a low level if planning on going away, may save you a lot of potential grief, if the worst happens!
For Insurance Brokers
Why not pop a friendly seasonal message out to all your policy holders suggesting they turn off the water or leave the heating timer on a low level if planning on going away – and to check their policy T&Cs, if their property will be unoccupied for a short period?